Overprint
Creative, experimental, expressive · Aesthetary’s guidance, not research
Uncoated stock, black ink and two risograph inks that disagree.
Suggested proportions
- 50% Canvas
- 13% Accent
- 12% Surface
- 12% Text
- 6% Secondary action
- 4% Primary action
- 3% Muted text
In use
Printed matter for people who still post things.
Posters, zines and identities, on a riso.
Start a commissionSee work
Open studio
First Thursday, 6–9pm.
Budget
Give us a rough budget so we can plan.
Using it well
18 color pairs are approved for use. 6 pairs are not for text; the ones that matter most for this palette:
- Accent on Canvas Not for text. Orange is 2.38:1 on the stock: a field behind black text, never text.
Roles
12 colors, their HEX values, what each is for and where it comes from
| Role | Color | Use | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canvas | #ECEAE4 | The page ground. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Surface | #F7F6F2 | Cards, panels and fields. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Text | #0D0D0D | All reading text and headings. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Muted text | #4A4946 | Secondary text and captions. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Primary action | #0D0D0D | The primary action, and links where it passes as text. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Text on primary | #F7F6F2 | Label on the primary action. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Secondary action | #3255A4 | Federal blue: secondary action and links. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Border | #C9C6BE | Hairlines and dividers. Decorative only; never a field’s only edge. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Input border | #77746D | The edge of an input, where it is the only boundary. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Accent | #FF6A13 | Fluorescent orange: a field to print on, with black text over it. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Focus | #3255A4 | Focus ring in the blue. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
| Error | #A11B1B | Errors, always with a word or icon. | Aesthetary’s guidance |
Contrast, by use
18 approved pairs, all passing · 6 not for text
WCAG 2 ratios, computed from the colors. Text needs 4.5:1; large text (24px, or 18.66px bold) and non-text (a focus ring, a field’s only edge, an icon) need 3:1. Only the pairs listed as approved are recommended.
Approved pairs
| Pair | Contrast | Needs | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text on Canvas | 16.16:1 | 4.5:1 | TextReading text | Passes |
| Text on Surface | 17.97:1 | 4.5:1 | TextReading text | Passes |
| Muted text on Canvas | 7.48:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary text, captions | Passes |
| Muted text on Surface | 8.33:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary text, captions | Passes |
| Text on primary on Primary action | 17.97:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLabel on the primary action | Passes |
| Secondary action on Canvas | 5.88:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary action: label and outline | Passes |
| Secondary action on Surface | 6.54:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary action: label and outline | Passes |
| Primary action on Canvas | 16.16:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLinks and small text in the action color | Passes |
| Primary action on Surface | 17.97:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLinks and small text in the action color | Passes |
| Focus on Canvas | 5.88:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Focus ring | Passes |
| Focus on Surface | 6.54:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Focus ring | Passes |
| Input border on Canvas | 3.88:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Input edge, the only boundary of a field | Passes |
| Input border on Surface | 4.31:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Input edge, the only boundary of a field | Passes |
| Error on Canvas | 6.49:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Error on Surface | 7.22:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Accent on Canvas | 2.38:1 | — | DecorativeAccent as a fill; meaning carried by a word too | Passes |
| Accent on Surface | 2.65:1 | — | DecorativeAccent as a fill; meaning carried by a word too | Passes |
| Text on Accent | 6.78:1 | 4.5:1 | TextText set on the accent fill | Passes |
Not for text
- Accent on Canvas 2.38:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Orange is 2.38:1 on the stock: a field behind black text, never text.
- Accent on Surface 2.65:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Border on Canvas 1.42:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Border on Surface 1.58:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Input border on Canvas 3.88:1. Not for text. Non-text only. An edge or ring, not a text color.
- Input border on Surface 4.31:1. Not for text. Non-text only. An edge or ring, not a text color.
What makes it characteristic
A studio palette from print: a warm gray stock, black, fluorescent orange and a federal blue. The orange is a field to print on, not a text color; the blue can carry small text.
Avoids: Black with neon glow; holographic gradients.
Related
Shares a principle with (Aesthetary’s guidance)New Wave Typography, Acid Graphics
Related palettesChemical Green, Stacked Film, Porch Light, Loud Hailer